Flush tank



J. C. OWENS Dece 17, 1946.

FLUSH TANK Filed Feb. l5, 1945 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y if v 77 75' 76 INVENTOR JESSE C. Off/7x52Y Patented Dec. 17, 1946 UNITED STATES Aram oFFlcs 6 Claims.

My invention relates generally .to the water storage tanks and valves that are used in combination for the ilushing of xtures such as toilet bowls, urinals and the like and the principal objects of my invention are to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive. flushing water storage tank and to combine therewith a highly effective flushing valve of the ball cock type which combined parts cio-operate to function with high efciency and without the undesirable hissing and gurgling noises which usually attend flushing operations and the refilling of the bowl and storage tank.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a combined' storage tank and ball cock flush valve that are capable of being readily installed in ordinary storage tanks or combined with and made a part of flushing tanks specifically formed for use in conjunction therewith, and further, to provide the storage tank with a substantially gooseneck-shaped structure having a siphonic duct that is highly effective in boosting or inducing the. rapid flow of stored water from the tank into thel toilet fixture and, further, to provide simple and efficient means for controlling and quieting the flow of water through the gooseneck.

Further objects of my invention are to provide means for producing siphonic action within the gooseneckI so as to start and accelerate the iiow of water therethrough and to provide simple means associated with the flush valve, for producing a. repeat or double ushing action, if ciesired.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fiushing valve and storage tank of the general character indicated that will operate with maximum efficiency with either high or low pressures of water supply.

A still further object ci my present invention is to provide means for counteracting and breaking any siphonic conditions which may develop tending `to draw contaminated water into the fresh water supply line.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, my invention consists in certain novel features of constructionV andarrangement of parts that will .be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1` is a top plan View of a combined storage tank and ball cock flush valve incorporating the principles Aof the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig, 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the'lineB-S of Fig. 1, showing the internal structure of the flushing valve.

Fig. 1 an enlarged fragmentary cross section tkenon the line 4-4 of,v Fig.- 1..

(Cl. Ll=44) 2 Fig. 5 is a detail Section .taken onthe line 575 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6.-'6 of Fig. 2. 5 Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line '1 -I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8` is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the adjusting screw for limiting the downward movement of the valves oat.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a modied form of connection between tubularparts of .the device and the tank.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of a part` of the ball cock flush Valve. i

Fig. 12 is a detail section of a modied iorm of the piston Valve used in the ball cock.

Referring by numerals to .the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, It designates a water storage tank which may be formed of wood, porcelain, plastics, composition such as woodstone or the like, and detachably secured to the bottom of' the tank is a short externally threaded tube I I, to the lower end of which is connected .a duct V(not shown) that leads to a toilet bowl or urinal. In the event that the tank I0 is formed of plastics, porcelain or composition as illustrated, the upper portion of the tube. I I may be screwed through a lug lila formed on the tank bottom. In the case of tanks otherwise formed, the upper end of the tube 1I may be provided with outwardly projecting flanges and secured by means of cement in a recess that is formed in the under surface of the .bottom oi the tank in a manner similar to that in which the water supply pipe is secured to the tank (see Fig. 10). i

A portion of the tube II projects above the lug Illa, and detachably connected thereto is a tubular gooseneck i2 comprising an inlet portion I3, an intermediate portion` I4 and an outlet portion I5. The inlet portion I3 slopes upwardlyat approximately ten or iifteen degrees with respect to the vertical from its open lower end I3a`. The intermediate portion I4 slopes downwardly at substantially forty-ve degrees from .the upper end of the inlet portion I3 and the outlet portion I5 extends laterally from the lowerend of thev intermediate portion I4 from which it inclines up'- wardly slightly in establishing communication with thel upper end of the discharge tube II.

A gasket IG is positioned between the lug Ita and the gooseneck around tube II and a cushion Il of rubber or .the like, is positioned between the tank bottom and a short leg `12a that extends downward from the gooseneck I2 adjacent the intersection of the intermediate and `outlet portions |4 and I5, respectively.l

1n order to equalize and silence the flowof `end of the water supply duct 25.

water through the tube II one or more longitudinally disposed partitions I 8 is located in tube I I and a continuous partition I9 centrally arranged within and extending lengthwise through the upper portion of the inlet portion members I3, the full length Iof the intermediate portion I4, and nearly the full length of the outlet portion I5, serves the same purpose in the gooseneck I2. l

In order to accelerate the boosting effect produced by the gooseneck during flushing operations, particularly where low pressure water supply conditions exist, the gooseneck is provided adjacent the lower end of its intermediate portion I4, with a lateral tubular extension 20 (see Figures l and 4) having an opening 2| normally closed by a weighted gravity valve 22 which is connected as by a link or chain 23 to an arm -24 (see Fig. 1) that is carried by a manuallynactuated shaft 6I) of the flush valve, to be hereinafter more fully described (see Fig. 4).

Where the tank is formed of porcelain, plastic or composition, the tank bottom below the open lower end of the gooseneck member I2 is increased in thickness to form a rib IIlb which extends upwardly along the inner surface of the tank I0. Formed in the outer portion of this rib adjacent the end wall, is a vertically disposed duct 25, and connected to the lower end is a water supply pipe 26. If desired, this pipe 26 may be provided with external flanges 26a and cemented in a recess in the bottom of the tankgas seen in Fig. 10.

' VAlso formed in the rib Ib are parallel ducts 21 and 29 the upper ends of which both open into a small chamber IIld adjacentv the upper end of the'rib Ib. rThe lower end of the duct 2'I communicates through an opening 28 with the interior' of the discharge tube II; and the lower end vof the .duct 29 communicates with a tube 30 which inclines upwardly into the inlet portion I3 of the gooseneck I2..

The length of the tube 39i. e., the point at `Which its upper end is located, is determined by the pressure of the water supply in the main, a lrelatively long tube 38 being employed when the available water supply is at low pressure and a shorter one for high pressures.

' Just below the upperedge of the tank' I0, the rib IIlb terminates in a suitably enlarged portion, orboss, IIJc upon which is mounted a float-actuated lushing valve which is indicated at its entirety at 48. This valve 4I) is mounted upon the kboss Ic bymeans of a tubular member 32 having Athreads 32a formed on its outer surface, these threads serving as'the means for rigidly mounting the valve 40 in position. An aperture 33 in the tubular member 32 registers with the upper A cylindrical ange 34 of materially greater diameterV than the -tubularrmember 32 is supported thereon in axial alignment therewith by means of a radially extending ange 34a; and upon the outer end of this cylindrical ange 34, an annular flange 35 is supported, the inner face of this flange 35 being seated against the outer face of the boss Ic while the outer face of the annular ange 35 is spaced outwardly froma valve seat 38 which is formed on the inner end of the tubular member 32, with the result that another annular valve seat 39 formed on the inner peripheral edge of the annular flange 35 is in substantially planar align- `ment with the valve seat 38, thus providing an annular opening Sibetween the valve seats 38 and 39, which opening leadsl into a substantially the tubular member 32. A bell-shaped portion 48al of the housing of the valve 30 is secured to the outer face of the ange 35 as by a plurality of screws 35a and a short horizontally disposed cylinder 4I is carried by the bell-shaped portion 48a. A flexible diaphragm 42 is clamped around its outer peripheral edge between the iiange 35 and the base of the bell-shaped member 49aV and this diaphragm which is preferably composed of rubber, leather, rubberized fabric, or the like, normally rests on both valve seats 38 and 39, thus normally closing the annular space 3S. A disc 43 of relatively thin resilient material bears against the outer face of the diaphragm 42 against which it is retained by, a centrally arranged tubular rivet 44. That end of the tubular rivet 44 which is disposed withinthe bore of the tubular member 32 serves as a seat for a small disc valve 45 whichis carried by a valve stem 46, one end of which is rigidly secured to a piston 48 reciprocally mounted within the cylinder 4I and the other` end of which extends loosely through the bore of the tubular rivet 44 so as to receive the disc valve 45 thereon in position to engage and electually close the associated end ofthe tubular rivet 44 when the piston 48 moves to the right, as viewed on Figure 3. This same stem 46 also carries another disc valve 45a in position to engage the opposite end of the tubular rivet 44 andeftectually close it when the piston 48 returns to that position in which it is illustrated in Figure 3. As is best shown in Figure 11, a bleed opening 45h is formed in each of the Valve discs 45 and 45a,

thus providing for a limited amount of flow through the tubular rivet 44 regardless of which of the valve discs 45 or 45a is in engagement Iwith the rivet 44. Consequently, the bore of the tubular member 32 is always in communication with the interior of the bell-shaped housing member 43a to the extent that equalization of pressures in both these chambers is assured.

When the piston valve 48 moves tothe right from the position in which it is illustrated in Figure 3, it draws with it the stem 46, with the result that the valve disc 45 engagesv the associated end of the tubular rivet 44-`and, upon Vcontinued-moveannular valve seats 38 and 39.

A packing 48a is provided inthe inner endof the piston 48 in position to eiectually engage a valve seat 49 encircling the opening 4I through which the stem 46 extends into'thel cylinder 4I, thus providing positive. assurance against leakage into the cylinder 4I when the piston 48 isin its Figure 3 position.

Preferably a pair of parallel arms 4Ia extending beyond the inner end of the cylinder 4I support a pintle pin 50 upon which a head 5I ispivotally mounted. The axis 0f the pintle pin 50 is horizontal and preferably it is disposed slightly below the axis of the cylinder 4I and its piston 48. Aligned conical recesses 52 and 53are formed in the inner face of the rocking head 5I and the outer face of the piston 4I respectively. The rounded ends of a pin 54 are seated within lthe two conical recesses 52 and 53, this pin preferably being Yretained in position, thus interconnecting the rocking head 5I and the piston 48-bypivot pins 55. A

A rod 56 rigid with-the head 5I extends'outvvardly therefrom and carries a suitable 'oat`51 at its outer end, andprojecting upward from the rocking head 5| is a nger 58, the upper end of which is curvedtoward the valve 49 as indicated at 59. i

A shaft is journaled in suitably aligned bearings 69a which are preferably formed upon the upper side of the cylinder III and a short arm EI rigidwith the shaft 50 extends radially therefrom. 4A notch or recess 52 is formed in the outer end of the arm 5I within which the rounded end 59 of the nger 58 is adapted to seat when the shaft i60 is rotated in counter-clockwise direction as viewed upon Figure 3 through a distance great enoughV to bring the recess 62 into registry with the rounded end 59.

The shaft 69 extends through a bearing 39h in aiwall of the tank I9 and the outer end of the shaft 6I carries a manually operable handle 53. The shaft 6| also carries a preferably adjustably mounted arm B4 carrying a counterweight 65a on its outer end, the parts being so proportioned and arranged that the counterweight 55a, urged by gravity, yieldably retains the shaft 9i] in that position wherein the arm 6I is disposed with its notch 62 out of registry with and below the enlarged end 59 of the nger 53, i. e in its Figure 3 position.

An opening 55 is provided in the lower portion of the annular ilange 36 of the valve dii, this opening 65 establishing communication between the annuluar chamber 31 and the chamberY I9d with which the upper ends of both ducts 21 and 29 communicate. An air inlet opening t1 is provided in the rib Ib just below the boss Iic, this opening establishing communication between the interior of the tank I9 and the upper ends oi both ducts 21 and 29. The function of this opening 31 is tobreak any vacuum that might develop within the ducts 21 and 23 should the valve 4|) be opened at any time when the supply of water under pressure` through `the supply pipe 25 is interrupted. This avoids `all possibility of the development of syphonic conditions which otherwise might tend to draw contaminated water from the flush tank I9 through the duct 29 or from the toilet iixture through the duet 21 back through the valve e and into the water supply system with which the supply pipe 26 communicates, if; the supply of water in the pipe 2S is interrupted and a partial vacuum developed therein. l

Preferably a bleeder duct 98 leads from the `inner end of the cylinder' il downwardly to Aestablish communication with the chamber IIld so as to provide for disposing of any water that might otherwise collect within the cylinder 4I.

Depending from the lower side of the rocking i head 5I is a lug 39 through which an adjusting screw 1D is threaded. Another lug 1| formed on the under side of the cylinder 4| in alignment with the lug 59 has an opening 12 therethrough through which an extension 13 of the screw 19 `extends with a suliicient degree of looseness to permit free sliding movement of the portion 13 with respect to the lug 1I. However, the extent of such movement is limitedby a coil spring 15 which is under compression between the lug 12 and a shoulder 1li formed on the screw 19. By adjustment of the screw 19 the degree of compression of the spring 15 can be regulated, thereby making possible variation oi the distance through which the rocking head 5I can rotate in response to downward movement of the iioat 51. In this manner, the degree of opening of the valve 40 can be Vregulated so as to determine the velocity with which water is expelled through the tube 39upwardly into the inlet end; I3 of the gooseneck I2. l j

HThe float 51 should be so positioned, by bending the rod 56, so that the maximum water levelwithin the tank I is approximately as indicated by the dotted lineas-# of Figure 2. When the water level within the tank is at this position, the float 51, floating upon the surface of the water, maintains the valve 49 closed Iby forcing the piston d8 to its Figure 3 position, and, as hereinabove described,

causing the diaphragm 42 to seat upon the valve seats 38 and`39, thereby preventing flow of water from the supply pipe 25 beyond that end of the central tubularmember 32 of the valve 49 upon Awhich the valve seat 38 is formed. Owing to the presence of the bleeder holes 451i in the disc valve 45a, sulcient water under pressureis permitted to flow past the diaphragm so as to equalize pressures on both sides of the diaphragm and thereby avoid thetendency for the water under pressure within the supply pipe 29 to unseat the diaphragm, However, since the diaphragm also `seats upon the valve seat 39, which describes a circle of less diameter than the reinforcing disc fl,'distortion of the diaphragm d2 by such fluid pressure acting on the opposite side of the diaphragm from that which bears against the valve seats is prevented.

To operate the hereinabove described apparatus, the handle 53 should be depressed, rotating the shaft 50 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3. The relationship between the arm 9|` on the shaft 69 and the nger 58 with its curved end 59, carried by the rocking head 5|, is such that as the shaft is so rotated the arm 5I causes the finger 58 and head 5I to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed upon Figure 3, throughout a distance sufficient to move the piston 43 to the right far enough to unseat the diaphragm i2 from the seats 38 and 39. This movement of the head 5| also causes the float 51 to move downwards, submerging the float 51 within the water in the tank l0. Unseating the diaphragm 42 from the seat 38 permits water to flow from the supply pipe 29 through the tubular member 32 around the seat 33 and thence through the opening 3G to discharge through the chamber Iild into both ducts 21 and 29. It should be explained that the relationship of the lupper ends of the ducts 21 and 29 to the chamber Iiid is such that most of the water will be carried from the chamber I9d through the duct 29 and only a relatively small portion delivered by the duct i 21 directly to the discharge, or outlet tube II.

The major portion of the water thus delivered through the valve 40 is forced upwards through the tube 39 and discharges from the upper end y thereof as well as through a series of jet openings 3| formed in the side of the tube 230 within the inlet member I3 of the gooseneck |2. The

water delivered to the gooseneck I2 is ejected from the tube 30 at considerable velocity, flowing upwards within the member I3 preferably on over the bend of the gooseneck I2, defining the' juncture of the portions I3 and I4. The amount of water constituting this quantity will be determined by the adjustment of the screw 10 which limits the extent of opening of the Valve 4I), as hereinabove described, and should be so regulated as to cause development of the syphonic conditions within the gooseneck I2` Vwhich lwill cause the remainder of the `water ywithin the tank I to be drawn through the opening I3a in the lower end of the inlet portion I3, through the gooseneck I2, and thence into the outlet tube I I. However, the valve 40 should not be permitted to open to such an extent that after the level of the water within the tank I0 has dropped below the upper end of the discharge tube 30, the water continuing to be ejected from the tube 30 can pass over the bend between the portions I3 and I4, but instead will fall back through the inlet portion I3 and ow through the opening I3a back into thetank I0 sor as to cause the tank Ill to be refilled after the` flushing action has been completed, it being understood that after the level of the water within the tank I0 has dropped to below the opening I3a, air will be drawn into the gooseneck I2, thereby breaking syphonic conditions therein and causing the ow of water from the tank III- through the gooseneck I2 to cease. Furthermore, as the tank I0 'becomes filled again, the float 51 rises with the water, gradually closingthe valve di), and thereby so reducing the velocity with which. Water is delivered through the tube 3U that the danger that a sufficient quantity of water again will be carried over the crest of the gooseneck I2 to cause an accidental successive flushing action is avoided.

After the flushing action has been completed, flowof water through the valve 4l] will continue owing to the lowered position of the float 51 and the consequent open position of the valve' 40. As stated, most of the water flowing from the valve l0 will flow through the duct '29 to refill lthe tank, while a relatively small amount of the water will flow through the duct 21 into the outlet tube II so as to assure the retention of a suitable amount of Water Within the toilet fixture in accordance with plumbing requirements in many localities.

-I claim:

l. In a toilet fixture flushing apparatus, a tank comprising walls and a bottom and having an inlet and an outlet, a float-controlled rell valve mounted for operation within said tank, a gooseneck within said tank having its open inlet end located near the bottom of said tank and its outlet end connected to said tanks outlet, means providing a duct leading from said tanks inlet to said valve, means providing a duct leading from said valve to said inlet end of said gooseneck, a tube communicating with said last mentioned duct and projecting therefrom upwardly into said inlet end of said gooseneck, and alongitudinally disposed partition within said gooseneck Vextending ytherein from adjacent the upper -end oi lsaid tube to a position adjacent said outlet end `of said gooseneck.

. A2, Ina toilet nxture flushing apparatus, a tank comprising walls and a bottom and having an i inlet and anoutlet, va oat-controlledrell valve mounted for operation within said tank, a gooseneck within said tank having its open inlet end located -near the bottom of the said tank and its outlet end connected to said tanks outlet, means providing a duct leading `from said tanks in- .let to `Asaid valve, ,-means providing a duct leadv,ing from said valve to said inlet end of said gooseneck, a tube communicating with said last `mentioned duct and projecting therefrom upwardly into .said inlet lend-of said gooseneck, said Cil tube having a plurality of jet-forming openings therein at diierent elevations within said inlet end of said gooseneck, and a longitudinally disposed partition within said gooseneck extending therein from adjacent the upper end of said tube to a position adjacent said outlet end of said gooseneck.

3. The combination with a flush tank having an outlet, of a gooseneck within said tank, the inlet end of said gooseneck being disposed above the bottom of said tank and its outlet end being connected to the tank outlet, and means for providing a main jet of water under pressure and a plurality of secondary jets of water at various elevations into said gooseneck above said inlet end thereof.

4. The combination with a iiush tank having an outlet, of a gooseneck within said tank, the inlet end of said gooseneck being disposed above the bottom of said tank and its outlet end being connected to the tank outlet, means for providing a main jet of water under pressure and a plurality of secondary jets of water at various elevations into said gooseneck above said inlet end thereof, and a partition within said gooseneck extending from a point adjacent vsaid jetproviding means to a point adjacent said outlet end of said gooseneck. y

5. In flushing apparatus of the character described, the combination with a tank, a Valve for controlling the supply of water thereto, a iioat'for opening and closing said valve, and manually operable means for simultaneously depressing said float and opening said valve, of a gooseneck Within said tank, the inlet end of said gooseneck being open and disposed above the bottom of said tank and the outlet end of said gooseneck being connected to said tanks outlet, means for conducting water from said valve into said gooseneck above said inlet end thereof, means providing an auxiliary inlet into said gooseneck adjacent said outlet end thereof, a removable closure for said auxiliary inlet, and means actuated by said float-depressing and valve-opening means for opening said closure.

6. In flushing apparatus ofthe character described, the combination with a tank, Va valve for controlling the supply of water thereto, a. float for opening and closing said valve, and manually operable means for simultaneously depressing said float and opening said valve, of

ya gooseneck within said tank, the inlet en'd of said gooseneck being open and disposed above the bottomof said tank and the outlet end of said gooseneck being connected to said tanks outlet, means for conducting water from said valve into said gooseneck above said inlet end thereof, and jetting it toward the crest of said gooseneck with suflicient velocity to carry water entering said gooseneck independentlyrof said conducting means over said crest andv thereby initiating syphonic action within said gooseneck, and adjustable means for limiting the `extent ofopening of said valve and thereby limitingthe force with which water is ljetted from said conducting means to an extent that when the level of the Water stored within said tank is below said jet-y .JESSE C. OWENS. 

